Little Pink Starfish

Everyone Has Times When They Can’t Help Themselves

Li Yuanle wasn’t a fool, but sometimes, General Li was willing to act like one. Just like now—he didn’t want to delve too deeply into whatever had happened between the princess and the pirate.

Yu Xiaoxiao asked him, “You believe what we said, right?”

Li Yuanle nodded. “Princess, I believe you.”

Yu Xiaoxiao was relieved. See? With her high IQ, how could she not handle this world? Still, she learned a new lesson today: in this world, men can’t casually flash their bits. (Don’t compare this rule-abiding, morally upright world with the anything-goes post-apocalyptic one, okay?! Seriously!)

Li Yuanle looked at the gang leader and said, “If you get any ideas, the prince consort will make sure you die without a grave.” Gu Xinglang, as a military man, didn’t have a sunny disposition.

The gang leader figured his ultimate end might be dying unjustly. Who would he even fall for? A lunatic? More importantly, would he really fall for a woman who could beat him up? Was he that masochistic?

Just then, Gu Xinglang entered the front courtyard. Seeing the three of them chatting, Young Master Gu asked, “What are you all talking about?”

Yu Xiaoxiao said, “My dad went back to the palace.”

“Then let’s talk inside,” Gu Xinglang said, looking at Li Yuanle and then at the gang leader.

Li Yuanle walked over and gave Gu Xinglang a pat on the shoulder. “Keep that thief away from the princess.”

Such a vague warning—how was Gu Xinglang supposed to take it? After thinking a moment, he told Li Yuanle, “The princess wouldn’t actually beat him to death.” As a big brother worried about his little sister, it was understandable to be protective. But did he really need to imagine his sister as some kind of killer?

Li Yuanle stumbled slightly. Was this idiot really his sworn brother, Gu Xinglang?

Yu Xiaoxiao chimed in, “My dad asked Brother Li to return to the army soon. So what about Bear Bear and your sister?”

Li Yuanle looked at the three clowns in front of him and finally said, “Let’s wait until Brother Gu returns. I’ll discuss it with him.” In this household, Gu Xinglang’s elder brother was the only one he could trust.

At the palace’s Shenxing Division, Gu Xingnuo stood before the tied-up Jingzhong and said softly, “Chief Steward never imagined he’d end up like this one day, did he?”

Jingzhong said, “I want to see His Majesty.”

Gu Xingnuo chuckled. “Since His Majesty sent me to interrogate you, you should know what his intentions are.”

The Gu family had a grudge against Jingzhong. Now that Emperor Xianzong had appointed Gu Xingnuo to question him, it was obvious enough. After years of wielding influence in both palace and court, Jingzhong knew what this meant—His Majesty wanted him dead.

“Just another damn eunuch,” Gu Xingnuo said coldly. “Confess your crimes, and I’ll make your death swift.”

Jingzhong laughed. “When you want to accuse someone, do you ever lack a charge?”

Hearing that, Gu Xingnuo was momentarily taken aback. He himself had said something similar in the Dali Temple’s prison before. Now, he was the one sitting in judgment.

“I want to see the emperor!” Jingzhong shouted at Gu Xingnuo. “I’ll only speak to His Majesty!”

A eunuch from the Shenxing Division stepped forward and slapped Jingzhong hard across the face.

Gu Xingnuo glanced at Qinghai, the eunuch standing beside him. He must be one of the new Chief Steward’s men.

Qinghai had always been respectful toward Gu Xingnuo. Seeing him look over, Qinghai bowed quickly and said in a low voice, “Does the eldest young master have instructions?”

Gu Xingnuo waved his hand.

Qinghai straightened and suddenly ordered in a sharp voice, “Since he won’t talk—use the instruments.”

Gu Xingnuo left the interrogation chamber. Though a general, he didn’t enjoy watching torture scenes.

He hadn’t been in the hallway long before Qinghai emerged from the dungeon as well, standing behind Gu Xingnuo with a smile. “Didn’t expect you to have such a kind heart, Young Master.”

Gu Xingnuo turned and looked at Qinghai. “His Majesty ordered us to get results. If we just kill him without finding anything, how will we explain it?”

Qinghai said softly, “Chief Steward Jingzhong has many allies in both palace and court. I just fear that delay could lead to complications.”

“And what do you suggest?”

“This was found in his quarters by one of my men.” Qinghai took a string of wooden prayer beads from his sleeve and handed them over.

Gu Xingnuo examined the beads. Carved into them was a symbol. “Yongsheng Temple?” he murmured.

Qinghai remained silent, only bowing again.

“Thank you for the effort, Chief Qing,” Gu Xingnuo said quietly.

Qinghai replied, “Young Master, I only hope the Seventh Prince returns to the palace soon.”

Gu Xingnuo gave a small smile. Someone who could replace Jingzhong could never be a harmless sheep. Qinghai was pledging loyalty to the Seventh Prince. The more the princess gained influence with Xianzong, the more people like Qinghai would try to defect. “I’ll present this to His Majesty,” Gu Xingnuo told him. “But how he chooses to deal with it, I can’t promise anything.”

“Understood,” Qinghai quickly said. “This is already more than I hoped for.”

Having gotten a clear response, Qinghai left without lingering—Gu Xingnuo didn’t like torture, but he did.

Looking at the prayer beads in his hand, Gu Xingnuo was still thinking about Gu Xinglang. Everything in this world had its counterbalance. He refused to believe his younger brother was truly beyond saving.

He didn’t know how long he had stood in the corridor when he heard someone call out behind him. He quickly tucked the prayer beads away and turned to see Little Wei approaching.

“Princess asked me to come find you in the palace,” Little Wei said respectfully.

“She didn’t come herself? His Majesty must’ve breathed a sigh of relief then,” Gu Xingnuo said, laughing.

Little Wei laughed too. “Young Master, His Majesty visited the Gu residence to see the State Preceptor. From what my brothers said, he and the princess talked for quite a while… but it didn’t go well.”

Gu Xingnuo could easily picture that scene.

Little Wei glanced at the pitch-dark dungeon entrance.

“Jingzhong’s inside,” Gu Xingnuo said quietly. “And the head of the shadow guards too.”

The smile froze on Little Wei’s face.

Gu Xingnuo stepped closer to him and said, “Now that Zhao Qiuming has lost his power, I won’t make things difficult for him.”

Little Wei quickly asked, “Young Master, you mean…?”

“I won’t interrogate him,” Gu Xingnuo said. “Tell your shadow guard brothers to give him a clean death.”

Though the head of the shadow guards wasn’t one of Little Wei’s men, he still looked visibly relieved after hearing that.

“Everyone has times when they can’t help themselves,” Gu Xingnuo said, unsure if he was referring to that shadow guard leader—or himself. “When all’s said and done, choosing between options… it’s just choosing a way to live.”